Question

Poly (ethylene glycol) PEG coating are often used to biomedical implants. How does PEG reduce protein adsorption?

Answer 1

PEG is unusually effective at excluding other polymers from its presence when in an aqueous environment. This property translates into protein rejection, formation of two-phase systems with other polymers, nonimmunogenicity, and nonantigenicity. In addition, the polymer is nontoxic and does not harm active proteins or cells although it interacts with cell membranes. It is subject to ready chemical modification and attachment to other molecules and surfaces, and when attached to other molecules it has little effect on their chemistry but controls their solubility and increases their size.